Manifolding register



July 21, 1931. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING REGISTER Filed Dec. 24. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

F July 21, 1931. A. A. JOHNSON k 5,

MANIFOLDING REGI STER Filed Dec. 24. 1929 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jay/v D056 00 WHOL [5/145/25 //V July 21, 1931. A. A. JOHNSON 1,815,063

MANIFOLDING REGISTER Filed Dec. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July '21, 1931.

A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING REGISTER Filed Dec. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 21, 1931 W at'e fihe feedifig D'lGChilliSlfl. In the ethef f fi ellnbdlimnts of the 7191455915 nven- 75 tyne of this kincL-xie S5 5 is previcl'ed, and I V U5 1 the ll'ziiiel e may be cen fiifmbusl'y' epe'r zi'ted iil- '9 3 iew 1 11 secuen and 111 eledefihi't'ely without cau'eins; fih'e feeding to be W ???r P i mgy.9 t @1149 0f {1 gresumed after the zipertures in the Strips 0 }f 19 6 16 s 3 Q the hzwe been efite'r'ed and 1111 51 a manual ope'ru- WP? dl Q g 3 .9? O WPW 80 tien ef the siartinp; device is perfqrmed. J a a a f il the P??? E Ah. object of the present invention isto 9 33." -QPPY LQ QQ P WEX9 51 118 avoid the necessity or need for the starting 9f f 3 1*? a dl fi 13119 engefm'siOnbeing performed by the operator l f t mf jQlBPQQi- 85 prepm a'torily to the next feeding epef-Lat-ion P5 W$W P il n s fi o Q endjn its broader aspects hzls application h EQY IV e d o f @HQFQ; 3 mnng: {6116 to the ewe kinds of nianifolding machines (16 Q fthe present mvenmon as applied aliovewref ei' red t0 ahcLthe two types en t 0- braced ili the lzist-fefiem ed t o kindw a slde flew, showlng the pal jzs This is a cc o'inplihed by previdin means ofuhe present invention and the parts with which they operate in the positions occupied during the operation of the feeding means.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the parts in the positions they occupy after cessation of movement of the feeding mechanism, the starter pawl being tripped to permit the feeding operation to be resumed immediately upon the next operation of the feed mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts provided by the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a modification of the structure of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 which is adapted to cause the starting device to be tripped at the beginning of the hex feeding operation.

Fig. 7 shows the present invention applied to a register having a stop for limiting the movement of the handle or other portion of the feeding mechanism, the top being made inoperative following a predetermined time after cessation of movement of the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a form of intake valve which may be used on the air pump.

The specific form of this invention elected to be claimed and prosecuted in this application along the generic claims to the invention will first be described, reference being had to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

The invention is shown as applied to a manifolding register having side walls 10, a platen 11, and a marginal frame 12 for supporting and holding in writing position a plurality of fabric strips 13 which are led by suitable guide means 1 1 from a supply compartment 15 to the platen 11.

The strips 13 are fed over the platen 11 and under the marginal frame 12 by feeding means comprising a pair of annuli or disks 16 carried by a feed shaft 17 and also a pressure roller 18 carried by a frame 19 and pressing the strips 13 into firm contact with the disk 16 by a spring 20. The strips 13 have feed-arrestim apertures 21 therein at formthe pressure roller 18), the disks 16 are located in the apertures; and,-there being no feeding contact between the disks and the strips, the strips cease advancing while the feed shaft 17 may be continuously operated indefinitely without causing further advance ment of the strips.

In order that the strips may be re-engaged by the feeding mechanism, the feed shaft 17 is provided with a starting roller 25 located at an unperforated portion of the strips and having a pair of cut-away portions or notches 26, one of which is normally located opposite the pressure roller 18. The starting roller 25 is mounted on the shaft so that it need not rotate with the shaft but tends to turn therewith by reason of a slip clutch connection between it and the shaft and including a disk 27 fixed on the shaft 17 and a disk 28 loose on the shaft and pressed against the starter roller 25 by a spring 29 interposed between the disk 28 and one of the feeding disks 16.

During the feeding operation, the starter roller 25 is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a pawl 30 loosely carried on a shaft 31 and engaging a. shoulder 32 at one end of the cut-out 26 which is at the side of the roller 25 opposite the cut-out which is then adjacent the pressure roller 18. The pawl is held in this position by a spring 33 which is also anchored in an ear on a tripping lever 34 carried by the shaft 31 and having a laterally extending ear 35 overlying the pawl 30. WVhen the shaft 31 is rocked, the car 35 en gages the pawl and moves its end away from the shoulder 32 on the starting roller and this permits the pawl to jump ahead of the shoulder under the influence of the spring until it engages a shaft 36 extending across the machine. That is to say, the pawl 30 moves to the position shown in Fig. 4, where it is held from again returning to the shoulder 32 by direct engagement with the periphery of the roller 25.

Subsequent rotation of the shaft 17 will *ause the starting roller to be rotated and after engaging the strips advance them at least until the apertures 21 in the strips have passed out of range of, the feeding disks 16. After this, the starting roller may continue to operate until it makes one half a revolution at which time the pawl 30 is caused by its spring 33 to jump into the depression 26 and engage the shoulder 32 to stop further rotation of the starter roller 25, the remaining portion of the feeding operation being completed solely by the feeding disks 16 and pressure roller 18 until the next set of apertures in the strips are entered by the feed ing disks 16.

It will be observed that the feeding mechanism thus far described is substantially the same as that shown in the Shoup & Oliver Patent $1,396,070, and like it the device illustrated has a crank 37 by means of which the shaft 17 may be rotated.

In said patent, and variations and modificationsthereof since made, means have always been provided to be operated by the operator to operate the starter shaft 31 by a manual operation so as to render the pawl 30 inoperative preparatorily to the feeding out of a set of forms, except in those embodiments of the Shoup & Oliver feed principle. where a crank oscillates back and forth between fixed limits, that is, where an oscillatory crank is employed, in which case means were previously provided for automatically releasing the starter pawl at a definite point the outward stroke (the air intake" stroke) estates 3 in the cycle of operations of the oscillatory connected by a l'iriklaa' aiid lever ES piVoted cran-k.- c

The need for thismanual operation, which, as pointed out was heretofore necessary, is

avoided by the present invention by pro vldlng'automatic means for i'n'it'iating the feeding operatlon which requires no attention on thepart of the operator.

This is accomplished, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,

by normally biasingthe starter shaft 31 so that the tripping lever 34 thereon will nor mally tend to release the pawl 8 O fro1 n the starting roller and providing means operable during the continued or sustained ro-" tation of the feed shaft 17 for preventing the pawl from being tripped so long as the rotation of the shaft 17 continues, but allowing the starter pawl 30 to be tripped or set to be tripped upon cessation of movement of the feeding shaft 17 or its handle 37.

The specific means for accomplishing this, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, comprises a cylinder 38 mounted on the frame ofthe machine, for

instanceby sc'rews89, see Fig. 2, and coin-prising two chambers 40 and 41-dividedby a wall 42; The chamber 40 contains a piston 43 having at the end ofaf rod 44 a head 45 adapted tobe held in engagement with a cam" 46" on rotation of the teed shaft 17; will thus cause the pistonto reciprocate within the cylinder;

There is an intake valve 48 in the piston 43 and an outlet valve 49' in thewall 42 so that air will be pumped bythepiston 43 intothe chamber 41 of the cylinder as the shaft 17 rotates. a

The air' inlet valve 48 may be of any do- I sired and known type adapted to, allow air to enter the cylinder- 40 as=the piston43 moves outwardly and to prevent escape or" air therethrough when the piston moves inwardly.

Such a valve is shown in Fig. 8 51s eXen'iplary of the klnd of valve which may be used. In

the figure, the valve 48 which is ail-ordinary check valve has a sleeve 70 inwhich there is located a ball 71! normally urged by a spring 72 a ainst a spun-over seat 73atthe "end of the sleeve.

The ball is smaller than the internal diaineter of the sleeve and hence; when the piston 43 moves outwardly of the cylinder, a partial vacuum is created within the cylinder, causing atmospheric pressure "oirthe ball 71 to move the ball inwardly away from its seat 78 against the tension of the spring 72-, tlius'allowing air topa'ss the hall and enter the cylinder. Then the end of :3 urged towardthe wall 42b'y aspring 51 an d in which the lateral ear 35 on the trip lever 34jpermi-ts" the pawl 30 to engageithe' starter roll-er, to the positionshown in F ig. 4,: where" the trip lever 34 through its car 35' has de pressed'the pawl 30" and release'dit' from'thestartingroller.

In this formof theinvention, ter s operation t me feeding mechanism; the parts are m the positions shown in Fig. 4;;for' air which was contained in the chamber 41 allowedto passout-through a bleedopening 58'.- As soon as the feed mechanism starts to operate, the piston-43 is reciprocated by i the cam 46 and be ins to punrpair through the valve 49 i i-'1 the wall 42 into the chamber 41 and this air forces-the piston" "baclzward ly against the tension otthespring' 51," thus moving the link 52', lever 53, link 56 and starter shaft 31' to a position see Figure 3' where the lateral ear 35 on the trip lever 34 is free of the pawiaoamt all'owfs tl'le' lat? n r ter to rise under theinfiuence of its spring "the feedshaft 17 by a spring 47 between the I wall 42 and the piston 43*. The continued 33 to" engage the approaching shoulder '32 on the starting roller 25.

This operation of p umpin g'air into-the chamber 41 continues intermittently during rotation of the feeding shaft 17 and-is'=;sniiicient to keep the piston 51 neartheend'ot its movement-{even though; during the intake stroke of the piston 43, air in the chamber:

the chamber 41 to keepthefltistOn- 51 'near' the outer end of its stroke'i This is aisb'con i trolled by the relative ca acitiesf the'ch'a'm; here 40 and 41-andthestrokesof the pistons; any surplus air in the chamber 41 being'a'llowed to escape through an opening 59 in the cylinder which is opened by the piston' 50 when the latter is" in its rearmo'st' position;

It will be noted that d'uringthe'operati'onj i 5 of the feedingme'ans the'piston'50isallowe'd;

in the form of the invention herein shown,

sir

to oscillate slightly near the end of itsrearward movement. This however, has no effeet on the starter pawl 30 because suflicient clearance indicated in Fig. 3 is left between the trippingear 35 on the trip lever 34 and" the surfaces on the pawl 20 whichit engages to prevent the pawl from being operated, and the starting roller is held with its cutaway portion 26111 the linear contact of the pressure roller during continuation ofthe feeding operation However; when the form has been feel out ofthe machineand the operator di'scontinues rotating the crank 37 and feed shaft 17, the pumping action of the piston 43 ceases and the air in the chamber 41 is allowed to gradually escape through the bleed opening 49 so that soon after cessation of movement of the feed shaft 17, the spring 51 will have' caused the piston to reach the limit of its movement inwardly, and in approaching thisposition the link and leverage system including the link 52, lever 53, and link 56 causes the shaft 31 to be rocked causing the leg 35 and the arm 34 to release the pawl 30 from the starter roller-this operation beginning when the piston reaches the position shown in Fig. 1 and being concluded when 1t reaches the position shown in Fig. 4.

The pawl will then jump ahead to the position shown in Fig. 4, where it will remain inoperative until at least one half a revolution of the starting roller takes place as above pointed out.

The interval of time which may elapse between the cessation of operation of the feeding mechanism and the release of the starter may be varied from a fraction of a second to a minute or longer, depending upon the size of the bleed opening 49 and any leak-age which may occur between the cylinder and piston.

Itis preferable, however, that the period be several seconds so that even if the crank 37 should be hesitat-ingly operated or the handle thereon should inadvertently slip from the operators grasp for a fraction of a second, the starter would not be tripped. 7

Of course, the valves 48 and 49 are one way valves and may simply be leathered flaps, if desired.

As stated above, within the scope of this I invention, the starter may be tripped subsequently to the last operation -of the feeding means as just described, or t may be tripped at the very beginning of the next operation of the feeding mechanism To do this, the mechanism disclosed 1n Flgs. '1 to 5, inclusive, may be modified as shown in Fig. 6.

In this form of the invention, the starter pawl 30 is in engagement with the shoulder 32 on the starter wheel during the interim between feeding operations. However, as soon as the feeding shaft 17 starts to operate, the cam 46 operates the piston which pumps air into the chamber 41 forcing the piston outwardly against the tension of its spring just as it does in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5. However, in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the outward movement of the piston causes the starter shaft 31 to be rocked so as to trip the pawl 30 and release it from the starter roller. This is done by connecting a lever 5342 which is pivoted at 54a to the piston 50 by the link 52 and pivoting on the lever between its ends a link 56a which has a hook 61 adapted to engage apin 62'carried by an arm 63 on the starter shaft 81. The arrangement is such that movement of the link 56a to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, will trip the starter. The continued movement of the piston 50 and link 56a will cause a cam surface 64 on the link to engage an abutment 65 and cause the link to rise against the tension of a spring 66 so that the pin 62 is no longer engaged by the hook 61. This allows the starter shaft to return to its normal position, and the starter pawl to engage the next approaching shoulder 32 on the starter roller 25.

The continued operation of the feeding mechanism causes the piston 50 to oscillate between the position shown in Fig. 6 and its outermost position, and when the operation of the feeding mechanism ceases the air contained in the chamber 41 is permitted to bleed out through the opening 49 and return the link 56a so that the hook 61 thereon rides up over the pin 62 and drops down behind it ready to rock the shaft 31 upon the next operation of the feeding means.

As above stated, the present invention also embraces in its broader aspects, the provi sion of automatic means for permitting the feeding operation ofthe strip or strips to be begun in a machine having a stop for the crank, without necessitating any manual operation to release the stop.

One embodiment of the present invention which accomplishes this result is illustrated in Fig. 7, in which the cam 46, cylinder 38, and pistons 43 and 50 and related parts are the same as in the other figures. In this form, the feeding rollers 16?) may have a fixed relation to the length of form to be fed, or they may be narrow annuli operating on the principledisclosed in the patent to vHagemann, #1,456,773. In any event, they are so proportioned or geared to the crank 376 that for one revolution of the crank a set of forms is fed across the platen of the machine.

Heretofore, stop means comprising cooperating parts on the crank 37b and the side 10?) of the frame were provided to limit the rotation of the crank to one revolution and a manual operation had to be performed to permit the stops to pass each other.

According to the disclosed embodiment of this invention, these cooperating stops are still employed and are constituted by a stop 67 on the side 10?) of the machine and a cooperating stop 68 or other portion of the crank 37?) constituting a stop. In the specific embodiment shown, the stop 67 is pivoted at 69 on a bracket 70 fastened to the side of the frame 10?) and has an arm 71 connected by a link 72 to the piston 50.

The device of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is further modified in this form so as to obtain intermittent and repeated operation of the piston 43 for each revolution of the feeding shaft 1712' by mounting the cam 46 on a stud shaft 73 having a gear 74 meshing with a larger gear 75 on the feeding shaft'l'Zb.

'Still referring to the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 when the operator desires to feed out a set of forms, the stop 67 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, due to the location of the piston 50 in its innermost position also indicated in dotted lines. As soon as the feed shaft. 1? begins to rotate, the cam 46 is rotated through the gearing 74 .75 and the'piston 4:3 begins to pump air into the chamber 41 with the result that the piston 50 is forcedoutwardly against the tension of its spring 51 and the stop 67is moved to the full line position shown in Fig. 7, where it will be in position to be engaged by the stop 68 on the crank when the latter reaches the position in which it is to be stopped, indicated in dot-and-dash lines.

The operator then tears off the issued forms and, before he is ready to issue another set of'forms, the ,air in'the chamber il bleeds out through the opening 49 and the stop 67 is movedto the inoperative position shown in dotted lines, ready to permit the next set of forms to be fed by the mere act of turning the crank'87b.

Other variations and modifications may bemade Within the scope of this invention and portions'of the improvements may be used without others. i

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed asnew and for which it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is r 1.111s manifolding machine having a platen over-which a strip is advanced; feeding meansfor advancing the strip a predetermined length, including means for render ing the feeding means temporarily inoperative to continue' to advance the strip after the strip has advanced said predetermined length and means.automatically made operative as an incident to cessation of movement of the feeding means for causing the feeding means to again become operative for strip advancement when it is next desired to ad- Vance the strip a predetermined length. i

2. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip a predeter mined length, including means for rendering the feedin g means temporarily inoperative to continue to advance the strip after the strip has 'advanced said predetermined length; and means restrained from operation during a concludingportion of the operation of the feeding means and automatically made operative upon cessation of movement of the feeding means for causing the feeding means to again become operative for strip advance Hient 1 11 the next operatiQno-f the feeding means, I

3. In a manifolding machine having a platen over'which a strip is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip predetermined lengths, including means for rendering the feeding means temporarily inoperative to continue to advance the strip after the strip has advanced said predetermined length; and means automatically madeoperative upon cessation of movement of the feeding means and requiring a predetermined time for its operation for causing the feeding means to again become operative for strip advancement'after the expiration of some time. t 7

4- In a ma-nifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip comprising means which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the'advancing means inoperative to co'n tinue the advancement; strip starting means for again making the feeding means operative forstrip advancement; and means restrained from operation during a concluding portion of the operation of the feeding means and automatically made operative upon cessation of movement of the feeding means for conditioningsai d strip starting means for operations upon the next operation of the feeding means.

5. In a manifolding machine having a plate-n over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for 'advancing the strip comprising means which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; a starting roller normally out of engagement with the strip; a trip device for restraining the starting roller from moving into engagement with the strip; and means restrained from operation during a concluding; portion of the operation of the feeding means and automatically made operative upon cessation of movement of the feeding mea-ns for operating -said trip device to cause the latter to move tothe position to release the starting roller for movement into engagement with the strip upon the next operation of the feeding means.

6. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing' the strip comprising meanswhich uponengaging the apertures in the st1-ipre11- ders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting mechanism for causing the feeding '-means to again become operative to advance the strips; and means automatically controlled by the sustained operation of the feeding mechanism for maintaining the starting mechanism in- 1 operative during a concluding portion of the operation ofthe feeding means' i f 7. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip comprising means Which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting mechanism normally biased to become operative to ren der the feeding mehcanism again operative to advance the strip; and means for restraining the operation of said normally biased starting means during the sustained operation of the feedin means and automatically operative to release the starting means for op eration after cessation of movement of the feeding means.

8. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip comprising means which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting mechanism normally biased to become operative to render the feeding mechanism again operative to advance the strip; and time-controlled mean-s restraining the operation of the normally biased starting mechanism until after cessation of movement of the feeding means.

9. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip-comprising'means which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting mechanism including a shaft the operation of which makes the starting mechanism operative to advance the strip; and means for operating said starting shaft automatically after the expiration of some time following cessation of movement of the feeding means.

10. In a manifolding machine having. a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip comprising means which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting mechanism adaptedto cause the feeding mechanism to again become operative to advance the strip; means tending to cause the starting means to be operative; and a slow motion device restraining the last-named means against operation during aconcludin g portion of the operation of the feeding means and releasing of sai d means for operation after cessation of movement of the feeding means.

. 11. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the stripcomprising means which upon engaging the'apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting means for causing the feeding means to again become effective to advance the strip and including a strip device for controlling the operativeness and inoperativenessof the starting mechanism; and a pneumatic device operated by the feeding means for controlling said trip device.

12. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip comprising means which upon engaging the apertures in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting means for causing the feedingmeans to again become effective to advance the strip and including a trip device for controlling the operativeness and inoperativeness of the starting mechanism; and an automatic time-controlled device operated by the feeding means for controlling the operation of said trip device.

13. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip having apertures therein is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip comprising means which upon engaging the aperturesv in the strip renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement; starting means for causing the feeding means to again become eifective to advance the strip and including a trip device for controlling the operativeness and inoperativeness of the starting mechanism; a pneumatic device connected to the trip device for controlling the operation of the latter; and an air pump operated by the feeding means for supplying air to said pneumatic device.

14:. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a strip is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip predetermined lengths, including means for renderingthe feeding means temporarily inoperative to continue to advance the strip after the strip has advanced said predetermined length; means for causing the feeding means to again become operative for strip advancement including a trip device; and a pneumatic device operated by the feeding means for controlling said trip device.

15. In a manifolding machinehaving a platen over which a strip is advanced; feeding means for advancing the strip predetermined lengths, including means for rendering the feeding means temporarily inoperative to continue to advance the strip after the strip has advanced said predetermined length; means for causing the feeding means to again become operative for strip advancement including a trip device; and an automatic time-controlled device operated by the feeding means for controlling the operation of said trip device.

16. In a manifolding machine having a platenover which a strip is advanced; feed.- ing means for advancing the strip predeter:

mined lengths, including means for rendering the feeding means temporarily inoperative to continue to advance the strip after the strip has advanced said predetermined length; means for causing the feeding means to again become operative for strip advancement including a trip device; a pneumatic device connected to the trip device for controlling the operation of the latter; and an m air pump operated by the feeding means for supplying air to said pneumatic device.

Si 'ned at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 21st day of December, 1929. v

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. 

